(Ottawa, ON) –Advance Care Planning: An Essential Conversation for Everyone
April 16th is National Advance Care Planning Day in Canada, a day to promote conversations
about your wishes and values for your future health and personal care in the event that you are
unable to speak for yourself. This year’s Advance Care Planning Day is based on the theme
Advance Care Planning: An Essential Conversation for Everyone.
Karine Diedrich, Director of the Advance Care Planning (ACP) in Canada initiative says, “Having
an Advance Care Plan will help to ensure your values and health care wishes are respected. In
these unprecedented times, with the impacts of COVID-19 felt around the world, it’s more
important than ever to stay connected to loved ones, regardless of distance, and to have
conversations about your values, wishes and what is important to you.”
The ACP in Canada website – advancecareplanning.ca/acpday – features downloadable resources,
including posters and social media graphics for organizations and individuals across Canada to
promote the ACP Day campaign.
For its signature event on April 16, ACP in Canada will host a free, exclusive online screening of
the critically acclaimed movie The Father for members of the public. Our hope is that the movie
will prompt important conversations among Canadians about the type of care and quality of life
that’s important to them.
Canadians have spoken, and although 80% of the population believes Advance Care Planning is
important, less than 1 in 5 Canadians have an Advance Care Plan. Between 6 and 8 pm on
April16th, we recommend speaking with your loved ones about your values, wishes and what is
important to you.
It’s not always an easy conversation to have. Fortunately, the ACP website at www.advancecareplanning.ca is full of information, tools, and prompts to help with starting
Production of this document has been supported by a financial contribution from Health Canada.
The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the views of Health Canada.
these conversations. There are also links to provincial and territorial-specific ACP resources
across Canada.
How are you connecting with friends and loved ones during these times? Share inspiring
conversations and stories using the hashtags #ACPDay2021 and #ACPinCanada.
The national ‘Speak Up’ Advance Care Planning (ACP) in Canada initiative is led by the
Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association (CHPCA) with a financial contribution from
Health Canada. The initiative aims to help people living in Canada prepare for their future
and personal health care. The project involves a series of public awareness campaigns,
supports community-based ACP programs, and promotes ACP resources and guides.
Advance Care Planning Day in Canada is also made possible with generous financial support
from GSK.
For more information contact:
Michael Powell
Communications Officer
1-800-668-2785 Ext 235
[email protected]
The Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association (CHPCA) is a member of the National
Advance Care Planning Task Group, comprised of representatives from a number of
organizations and professions across Canada.